Bantock House Wolverhampton 1940's Day 080913

Bantock House Wolverhampton
1940's day 080913

Check out my Flickr photographs

www.flickr.com by my name Liz Callan

under Flickr members 
To view the rest of the photographs from this visit.
I hope you like the history.

http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/buildings/bantock

A really good website to visit and get more history of Wolverhampton and area too.

Also view the Telegraph newspaper review about Granville Bantock.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/proms/10149516/Granville-Bantock-Britains-forgotten-composer.html

BANTOCK HOUSE

The house was originally knows as New Merridale Farm and built between 1734 and 1738

MERRIDALE FARM

It is not know who built it but first owners were the Petit family from nearby Old Merridale Farm. The family did not live at the new Merridale Farm but leased out the property. The first recorded occupant being John Pursehouse in 1788

MERRIDALE HOUSE

By 1811 the property was occupied by Thomas Bainbridge Herrick and during his time the building was altered and became known as Merridale House

Herrick died in 1824 but the family continued to live there until 1832 when the Rev. Thomas Walker JR a prebendary of St Peter's Church, Featherstone took it over. He stayed until 1840 when he became Rector of Abbots Moreton.

It was around this time that the Petits sold Merridale House to James Bradshaw a local businessman. In 1851 James Bradshaw because Alderman for St Peter's Ward in Wolverhampton.

By 1867 the house had been sold to Thomas Bantock a business associate of Bradshaw's

THOMAS BANTOCK

Thomas Bantock had been sent to Wolverhampton in 1849 by the Duke of Bridgwater's Trustees. In 1858 he had started the carrying company of Thomas Bantock 7 Co with offices at Wolverhampton Low Level Station.

Three years later he was elected a Councillor for St Mary's Ward and in 1869 because Mayor. He spent fifty-three years as a member of the Council before retiring in 18.93.

When Thomas Bantock died in 1896 he left behind three sons and seven daughters. The eldest son Albert Bantock became the new owner of Merridale house 

ALBERT BANTOCK

Like his father Albert Bantock served on the Council. He was first elected in 1900 representing St James' Ward

He served twice as Mayor from 1905-1907 and 1914 -1915 became High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1920 and was granted the Freedom of the Borough in 1936. He retired in 1934.

Albert Baldwin Bantock died in 1938 leaving no children. In his will he left the house and land to his wife with the understanding that on her dearth the property should be given to the Boorough of Wolverhampton. 

However although Mrs Bantock survived her husband by sixteen years, she donated the house and its surrounding areas to Wolverhampton Corporation in 1938 and 1941.

In 1948 Mrs Jessie Sankey one of Albert Bantock's sisters officially opened Bantock Museum.

REFURBISHMENT

The house outbuildings and grounds were refurbished in 1998 following a major Heritage lottery grant. The ground floor is now set in the Edwardian period with Arts and Crafts.

Complete with carved oak panelled rooms, decorated glass, tiles and period furnishing inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. 

Upstairs the first floor museum features a number of interactive exhibitions which explore the history of Wolverhampton 

Baldwin was a keen gardener, he transformed the farmyard into a charming sunken Dutch Garden and planted the Rose Garden, as well as creating the colourful flower borders and Woodland Garden which now forms part of the parks nature trail.

The Dutch Garden is now a popular courtyard cafe serves homemade food, drinks and ice cream. With a museum shop selling cards and gifts. 

If you visit Bantock House with children, go and visit the West Park top right of map.It is a really wonderful Old Victorian Park with Victorian Clock, greenhouse and boating lake.